Department for Transport

Large Goods Vehicles: Safety

the earl of dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce direct vision standards for heavy goods vehicles in order to reduce road accidents; and if so, when.

baroness sugg: The Government is working in international organisations to develop increased safety standards, including for direct vision, for heavy goods vehicles. The timing of changes will depend on the outcome of that work. It has no plans to introduce a direct vision requirement nationally for existing heavy goods vehicles, given the current information available about the accident reduction potential. Using its devolved powers, London is separately taking forward a scheme to promote direct vision, and similar powers are available for other large cities.

Speed Limits

lord holmes of richmond: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether current legislation and enforcement around speed limits is working; and what steps they are taking, if any, to ensure that particular design decisions, such as the removal of pedestrian crossings, does not increase the number of speeding vehicles.

baroness sugg: In November 2018, the Department published an evaluation into 20mph (signed only) limits: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/20-mph-speed-limits-on-roads.It has long been thought that most residents and drivers support 20mph limits, and the study confirms this. The study looked at the enablers and barriers to implementing a successful scheme and found that early engagement and buy-in from other stakeholders, including cross-party support from local councillors; clear articulation of the scheme’s rationale, objectives and outcomes; and tailoring of schemes to local circumstances were crucial to a scheme being accepted by the public and delivered to the anticipated quality, programme and cost.Design of streets in their care is a matter for local authorities, including installation or removal of pedestrian crossings. It is for them to decide if removing or altering a crossing is appropriate. In doing so they may consider the effect on factors such as traffic flow and speed and pedestrian movements. The Department is currently updating its guidance on designing traffic signals and pedestrian crossings, to be published later this year.Enforcement of speed limits is a matter for the police.

Taxis: Greater London

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the financial impact on public and statutory services, and (2) the environmental impact of recent road blockages around Parliament Square.

baroness sugg: The Department has not made any assessment of the impact of recent road blockages around Parliament Square. In London, transport is devolved to the Mayor of London and delivered by Transport for London (TfL). Responsibility for managing London's road network is shared between TfL and the relevant London Borough, in this case the City of Westminster.

Cycling

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they expect to meet the target in their Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy for 800 million extra cycling trips by 2025; and if not, what revised target they intend to adopt for the same period.

baroness sugg: The Government is committed to meeting the various goals set out in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, including the aim to double the amount of cycling by 2025, and is not considering any revisions. Current policy is projected to fill around one third of the gap towards the 2025 aim of 1.6 billion cycle stages, based on projected funding provision in the current Spending Review period. Further investment to meet existing aims and targets for cycling and walking post 2020/21 will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Ferries: Exhaust Emissions

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to prevent the drivers of vehicles aboard ferries in UK waters from prematurely switching on their engines prior to disembarkation, in order to reduce emissions and protect public health.

baroness sugg: The Government has no current plans to regulate this area. Ferry passengers are not generally permitted to remain with their vehicles while on passage for safety reasons. Individual ferry operators have in place their own policies to manage engine switch-on as drivers return to their vehicles before arrival, in order to reduce emissions on the car deck.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the increasing costs of pothole-related problems on motorways and A roads.

baroness sugg: Highways England is responsible for the motorways and main A-roads in England. It is spending £5bn on maintenance and renewals, which includes spend on resurfacing and pothole repairs, in the first Road Investment Strategy period (2015-2020). Highways England is also working with its suppliers to improve the performance of road surface materials so that the service life is prolonged, helping to reduce the number of potholes in future. As part of this work, Highways England has ongoing road trials of new and innovative products.

Monarch Airlines: Insolvency

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much progress has been made in recovering from the owners of Monarch Airlines the costs incurred by UK taxpayers in repatriating that airline’s passengers.

baroness sugg: The Government has made good progress in recovering monies from a variety of sources including credit card companies and tour operators. We are grateful for the companies that have contributed to the costs of repatriating their customers, demonstrating their corporate social responsibility and encourage others to follow their example. In October 2017 we estimated that the total cost of the repatriation operation would be £60m. The actual cost of the repatriation operation is currently estimated to be about £50m and we do not expect this number to change significantly. Following on from the experience of Monarch, the Secretary of State for Transport commissioned an independent Airline Insolvency Review which is expected to report by spring 2019.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written AnswersbyLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on16 March 2016 (HL6659, HL6660, and HL6661), what progress they have made in (1) legislationin regard to,and (2) protection against, drones in the last three years.

baroness sugg: Last year, the Government legislated to make flying drones above 400ft or within 1km of an airport boundary illegal. Last month, the aerodrome restriction zone was expanded to include an airport’s aerodrome traffic zone as well as 5km by 1km extensions from the end of runways to protect take-off and landing paths.Last year, the Government also put into law a registration requirement for all operators of drones weighing 250 grams or more, and a requirement for remote pilots of drones to take a competency test. These requirements will come into force on 30 November 2019.A new Drones Bill will be introduced in the next Session, which will give the Police greater powers to tackle offences involving the misuse of drones. In addition, the Home Office has announced new stop and search powers for drones around aerodromes, which will also be included in the upcoming Bill.The Home Office continues to review the UK’s response to the malicious use of drones, and will consider how best to protect the full range of the UK’s critical national infrastructure, as well as testing and evaluating technology to counter drones.The Government will also continue to work closely with industry and other partners on regulation, anticipating future innovations wherever possible in order to keep our airports secure and our airspace safe.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sudan: British Nationals Abroad

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to secure the release of UK passport holders jailed by thegovernment of Sudanafter taking part in protestsin that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We have requested confirmation of, and consular access to, individuals who we believe have been arrested in relation to the recent protests. The assistance we can provide to dual nationals in Sudan is limited as they are in the country of their nationality and local authorities are not obliged to inform us of their arrest.

Syria: Islamic State

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to bring members of ISIS captured in Syria to justice for crimes against humanity and genocide; and whether they are assisting in the creation of a regional tribunal to hear such cases.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is committed to ensuring that those responsible for any war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity alleged to have taken place in Syria, including members of Daesh, are brought to justice in accordance with due legal process. Where possible, this should be in the region where the crimes have been committed. We continue to support the UN Commission of Inquiry's investigations into human rights violations in Syria and we are providing diplomatic and financial support to the UN International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to gather evidence and prepare legal cases. Separately the UK led on UN Security Council Resolution 2379 which established a UN investigative team to support accountability for Daesh crimes in Iraq.

Jamal Khashoggi

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have given to the government of Turkey to bring those who murdered Jamal Khashoggi to justice in Turkey.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Both the Minister for Europe and the Americas and the Foreign Secretary have had a number of conversations since Mr Khashoggi's death with our Turkish counterparts. In addition, both the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister have raised the issue with the Saudi authorities, including King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. We have stressed the importance of ensuring that those responsible are held to account, and that Saudi Arabia takes action to build confidence that such an incident could not happen again.The British Government is also aware of the investigation by the UN Special Rapporteur, Agnes Callamard. We will consider the report closely ahead of the UN Human Rights Council.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about the reported intention of the Israeli Minister for Tourism to settle one million more settlers in the West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are concerned by the reports in question. We regularly raise our concerns on settlements with the Government of Israel and urge it to reverse its policy of settlement expansion. We consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.

Jerusalem: Evictions

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what protection they will give to the Palestinian families living in Sheik Jarrah in East Jerusalem who are facing eviction to make way for Israeli settlers.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We continue to be gravely concerned by the impact of demolitions and evictions on ordinary Palestinians and the impact this has on the viability of a future Palestinian state. Our Ambassador to Israel raised our concerns about evictions in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem with the Israeli authorities on 29 January. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We fund a number of projects to monitor and report on settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and to protect vulnerable Palestinian communities from the effects of settlement expansion.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel following reports that settlers have invaded the village of Tuqu' and set up a new settlement outpost under the protection of Israeli forces.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of recent reports of violence in the village of Tuqu' east of Bethlehem. We regularly raise our concerns on this issue with the Government of Israel and urge it to reverse its policy of settlement expansion. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and to take all measures in its power to protect the Palestinian population from all acts of violence.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the government of Israel about reports of Palestinian residents in the Jordan Valley being forcibly displaced as a result of Israeli military using that area to conduct training drills.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of media reports that Palestinian families have been evacuated from the Jordan Valley because of Israeli military drills. While we are clear that Israel has the right to defend itself, we continue to raise concerns about Israel's conduct of the occupation and consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that make peace more difficult to achieve.

Gaza: Climate Change

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding the effects of climate change on Gaza, in particular the impact of ocean acidification and deoxygenation.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities. The impacts of climate change are already being felt across the Middle East including in the marine environment, and will become much worse over time. That is why climate change and the implementation of the Paris Agreement is such a high priority for this Government.

Ibrahim Dahbour

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the arrest of Palestinian MP Ibrahim Dahbour who has recently been released from administrative detention; what representations they have made to the government of Israel in response to his arrest; and what action they intend to take as a result of any such representations.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not made any representations to the Israeli authorities on this specific issue. We remain concerned about Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees.

Asia Bibi

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the government of Pakistan to secure the safe passage of Asia Bibifrom that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As the Prime Minister has made clear in Parliament, the British Government's primary concern is for the safety and well-being of Asia Bibi and her family. We regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Government of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has confirmed that Asia Bibi is free to make her own decisions and to leave Pakistan should she wish to. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi has also affirmed that the Pakistan authorities will continue to do everything necessary to ensure her safety. I raised human rights issues, including freedom of religion and belief, during my visit to Pakistan on 18 and 19 February.

Sudan: Press Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Sudan about (1) the harassment of the British citizen, Yousra Elbagir, after reporting for Channel Four News about protests in Sudan, and (2) the jailing of Sudanese journalists.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not been made aware of Yousra Elbagir's case. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office stand ready to offer consular assistance to British Citizens in Sudan. Through regular official engagement in Khartoum, and as previously made clear in our Troika statement of 8 January, we continue to support the Sudanese people's right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and call for the immediate release of political activists, human rights defenders, journalists and others detained without charge.

Sudan: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Ambassador of Sudan about the reports of human rights violations, including killings, torture, rape and imprisonment of women and children involved in countrywide protests against the government of Sudan in that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Following the departure of the Sudanese Ambassador to London in January his replacement presented credentials on 11 February. We will continue to raise our deep concerns with the Government of Sudan about their response to and treatment of peaceful protestors.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have asked the United Nations–African Union Mission to halt its withdrawal of peacekeepers from Sudan and the handing over of its camps to the government of Sudan until the current situation in Sudan has been reassessed; and if not, why not.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK supports peace and stability in Darfur and a gradual, conditions based flexible withdrawal of UNAMID, driven by the situation and needs on the ground. In December 2018 the UN Security Council adopted Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2018/19) that set out key areas, against which progress is required to ensure a successful transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. This includes ensuring that physical property and United Nations team sites are handed over in line with general UN practices, as well as financial rules and regulations. The UK will continue to work with the United Nations and in the United Nations Security Council on this matter.

Sudan: Demonstrations

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they made of the number of people involved in the nationwide protests in Sudan; what assessment they have made of the scale of the current protests compared to the protests in that country in 1964 and 1985; and whether they plan to meet the Sudanese alliance of opposition groups to discuss their "Declaration For Freedom and Change"; and if so, when.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of reports that estimate the number of people involved in the recent protests in Sudan as in the thousands; figures are difficult to confirm. Protests throughout Sudan have now run longer than any other period of protests in Sudan's history, including those in 1964 and 1985. We frequently engage with Sudanese opposition groups and members of civil society, including those who drafted the declaration for freedom and change.

Sudan: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to ask the United Nations Human Rights Council to (1) reappoint a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights violations in Sudan, and (2) establish an independent international committee to investigate the actions of the government of Sudan against its own people.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​In September the UK led on negotiations for the resolution on Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council, which renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert for a further year and mandated the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to set up a permanent presence in Sudan. We continue to monitor the situation and consider the best means to support human rights improvements in Sudan, including through Human Rights Council mechanisms, official engagement, public messaging, and other international fora.

Commonwealth: Trade

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in April 2018, what plans there are for the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement to boost intra-Commonwealth trade; what are the expected outcomes of such plans; and when such outcomes are expected to be delivered.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK-funded Commonwealth Trade Facilitation Programme is helping member states implement the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The two year programme aims to help developing and least developed countries in the Commonwealth adopt faster and more efficient customs procedures that will in turn reduce the cost of doing business and create a more enabling environment for intra-Commonwealth Trade. While the Commonwealth Trade Facilitation Programme is due to conclude by April 2020, implementation of the TFA will continue for several more years. The Agreement is unique in that it allows developing and least developed countries to set their own timetable for implementing elements of the agreement: developing countries are required to provide definitive dates for implementation by August 2019, and Least Developed Countries by 2022.

Commonwealth

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in April 2018, when the conclusions of the scoping missions to Eswatini, Tonga and Zambia will be published.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Scoping missions conducted by the Commonwealth Trade Facilitation Programme aim to identify where external technical assistance would enhance member states' capacity to implement the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement. Tailor-made implementation plans have now been developed or are in the process of being developed for seven Commonwealth countries, including Eswatini, Tonga, and Zambia. The outcomes of these audits, assessments and studies are primarily for the use of those governments and are not intended for publication  ​

Africa: Economic Growth

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in April 2018, what aspects of economic development in Sierra Leone and Malawi have received technical support; and what was the result of any such support.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Since its launch at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018, the Commonwealth Trade Facilitation Programme has increased the capacity and capability of customs organisations in 18 Commonwealth countries. This in turn facilitates the increase of trade, providing benefits for governments, consumers and producers in these Commonwealth countries. For example:In Eswatini, the programme has conducted a post-clearance audit and delivered workshops aimed at creating more efficient and cost effective customs clearance systems at the border;In Tonga and Zambia, Time Release Studies (TRS) of customs clearance processes have identified possible areas for systematic efficiencies;In Sierra Leone, advanced training has enabled customs officials to more accurately identify the customs value and corresponding rate of duty to be paid on imported goods; andIn Malawi, workshops have helped improve the recording of information related to different categories of goods to enable the correct collection of customs duties.​

Abdullah Öcalan

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 11 February (HL13171), what was the outcome of their discussions with Turkish officials in mid-January about the prison conditions of Abdullah Öcalan.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Turkish officials took note of the Embassy's interest in Abdullah Öcalan's prison conditions. We will continue to engage with Turkish officials on this issue, and the related issue of the associated hunger strike campaign.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 11 February (HL13266), how they measure whether Israeli authorities are deploying security measures appropriately and legitimately; what assessment they have made of whether the actions of Israeli forces at the Al Khader stadium was an appropriate and legitimate response; and on what evidence they based their decision not to raise the case at the Al Khader stadium with the government of Israel.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to encourage Israel to abide by its obligations under International Humanitarian Law. We have not made an assessment of the incident at the Al Khader stadium, but do raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities about Israel's use of live fire and deterrence methods used when responding to protests. We continue to support independent and transparent investigations into instances when there have been accusations of the excessive use of force.

Israel: Gaza

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 28 January (HL12818), how many Palestinians, including farmers and fishermen, living in Gaza have been (1) injured, and (2) killed in the buffer zone in the last five years; what assessment they have made of the impact on the number of those who are injured and killed of the buffer zone area being regularly changed by the Israeli military; and whether they intend to make representations to the government of Israel about such changes so that citizens can avoid inadvertently entering that zone.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We do not hold figures for Palestinians who have been killed or injured in the buffer zone. We regularly raise with Israel our concerns about its use of live fire in Gaza, and urge them to reduce restrictions, including reducing movement and access restrictions and expanding the fishing zone.

Israel: West Bank

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likelihood of the annexation of the West Bank by Israel.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We regularly raise our concerns with Israel about their policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank. It undermines the prospect of a two-state solution, and we are clear that any plans for annexation are unacceptable. We raised our concerns at the UN Security Council at 20 February.

Israel: Gaza

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to raise the use of the Responsibility to Protect in order to end the siege in Gaza and to protect Gaza’s civilians at the next UN Security Council; and if not, why not.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is fully committed to the principle of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). We do not intend to raise this in the context of Gaza, but do regularly raise the importance of improving the situation in Gaza, including at the UN Security Council on 20 February.

Religious Freedom

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of their current review of the global persecution of Christians, whether they will consider commissioning similar reviews about other religions or belief groups.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have no plans to commission independent reviews on other groups at this time. The persecution or discrimination against all faiths or beliefs remains of profound concern to us and we remain committed to standing up for Freedom of Religion or Belief all over the world. We will continue to work with faith leaders and civil society organisations to tackle discrimination and persecution and to promote the value and benefit - to individuals, communities and wider society - of religious freedom and mutual respect.

Leila de Lima

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 13 February (HL13518), whether Senator Leila de Lima remains in custody in the Philippines; what representations they have made to the government of the Philippines about her case; what discussions they have had with the Inter-Parliamentary Union about representations that organisation has made to the government of the Philippines about her case; and what action they have taken since the question for short debate in the name of Lord Hylton on 24 January (HL Deb, cols 863–878).

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of the case of Senator Leila de Lima, who has remained in detention since 24 February 2017. Our Embassy in Manila continues to follow developments over her case closely.Our position on the importance of rule of law is clear, consistent and well known in the Philippines. We continue to underline the need for the rule of law to be upheld and due process followed.In August 2018, the Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific underlined our views with several Philippine Ministers during his trip to Manila. In November 2018, Senior Officials underscored the same point during our High level Political Talks. Most recently, the Prime Ministers' Trade Envoy to the Philippines, Richard Graham MP, raised these issues with Philippine Ministers during his visit to the country in February 2019.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

lord naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK High Commissioner to Sri Lanka was invited to the diplomatic briefing chaired by the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs on 12 November 2018; and if so, whether he attended that briefing.

lord naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, the UK High Commissioner to Sri Lanka had in the Sri Lankan Parliament with the Speaker of the Parliament in the recent period when the Sri Lankan Parliament was prorogued.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British High Commission received an invitation to an open briefing for Diplomatic Missions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 12 November. In line with the EU and other major diplomatic partners in Colombo our Head of Mission did not attend, although some partner countries sent more junior diplomatic staff.The High Commissioner, together with other senior diplomats in Colombo, had one meeting with the Speaker in his office in Parliament during the period when Parliament was prorogued. During the period he and senior colleagues met the President and other Sri Lankan political leaders on a number of occasions.We were deeply concerned by the recent political developments in Sri Lanka, and made statements on 26 and 29 October, and 9 November, calling on all parties to uphold the constitution and due legal and political process. We also made a statement on 17 December, welcoming the steps that were taken to resolve the crisis, which has now led to the appointment of a Cabinet of Ministers. The outcome is a welcome demonstration of the resilience of Sri Lanka's judicial and democratic institutions, and of effective checks and balances between state powers. The UK will continue to stand by Sri Lanka as a close partner and friend, supporting Sri Lanka as it works to deliver sustainable and accountable reform, to improve governance and safeguard human rights.

Department of Health and Social Care

Health Services: Greater London

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of recent road blockages of Parliament Square on (1) St Thomas' Hospital, (2) nearby GPs surgeries, and (3) the Ambulance service.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Department has made no such assessment. However, St Thomas’ Hospital, NHS England (London), Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group, and the London Ambulance Service are not aware of any impact of recent road blockages in Parliament Square.

General Practitioners: Stress

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they intend to take to reduce stress levelsof general practitioners.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The NHS Long Term Plan made a clear commitment to the future of general practice, with primary and community care set to receive at least £4.5 billion more in real terms a year by 2023/24, meaning spending on these services will grow faster than the rising National Health Service budget. Since the launch of the Long Term Plan, NHS England and the British Medical Association’s General Practitioners (GP) Committee have agreed a five-year GP (General Medical Services) contract framework from 2019/20. The new contract framework will be essential to deliver the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan through strong general practice services. The contract framework will see billions of extra investment for improved access to family doctors, expanded services at local practices and longer appointments for patients who need them. Beyond contract funding, investment worth hundreds of millions of pounds will continue to be made in central programmes benefiting general practice.In January 2017, NHS England launched the GP Health Service in recognition of GPs reporting they were experiencing stress and mental illness. The NHS GP Health Service is a nationwide, free confidential NHS service for GPs and GP trainees in England. The service can help doctors with issues relating to a mental health concern, including stress or depression, or an addiction problem, particularly where these might affect work. Since its launch, over 2,000 GPs have accessed the service.The Government recognises that workload is one of the greatest challenges that GPs currently face and a contributor to workplace stress. NHS England has invested £30 million in the Releasing Time for Care Programme which aims to help practices reduce their workload through spreading awareness of innovations and facilitating local health programmes. As of January 2019, the programme had worked with 95% of clinical commissioning groups.NHS England has also committed to further expanding community based multi-disciplinary teams and will provide funding towards up to 20,000 other staff in primary care networks by 2023/24. This builds on the non-GP clinical staff already working in general practice, and will mean bigger teams of staff, providing a wider range of care options for patients and freeing up more time for GPs to focus on those with more complex needs.

General Practitioners: Vacancies

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they intend to take to fill GP vacancies in (1) Swindon, and (2) the rest of England.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: NHS England and Health Education England (HEE) are working together with the profession to increase the general practitioner (GP) workforce in England. This includes measures to boost recruitment, address the reasons why GPs are leaving the profession, and encourage GPs to return to practice. There is a broad offer to support GPs to remain in the National Health Service including the GP Retention Scheme, the GP Retention Fund, the GP Health Service and the Releasing Time for Care Programme. It is also now quicker and easier for GPs to return to the NHS through the National Induction and Refresher Scheme. Last year, Health Education England recruited the highest number of GP trainees ever and the Targeted Enhanced Recruitment Scheme (TERs) is attracting GP trainees to parts of the country where there have been consistent shortages of GP trainees. Over 500 trainees entered the TERs scheme in 2016-18 and a further 276 are available in 2019. Twelve places were available for GP trainees on the scheme within Swindon in 2018 and a further 12 are available for 2019.To further support recruitment of GPs in Swindon, Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group advise it is working with the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop new posts for GPs which allow clinicians to work across primary care and acute hospitals to support career development. It has also invested in development programmes with the Local Medical Committee to support retention of GPs in the area, including coaching and mentoring programmes.

Food: Safety

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have carried out on the food safety effects of chlorine washing of (1) salad, and (2) meat, products.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that chlorine washes can be used on fresh produce, including salad, but are legally not permitted on products of animal origin or meat. Past research commissioned by the FSA includes Reducing Campylobacter cross-contamination during poultry processing. The researchers tested some substances, including, chlorine dioxide, and compared their effect with steam treatment. The results indicated that none of the treatments eliminated Campylobacter entirely. The FSA is continuing to review the literature and monitor the latest developments on the topic. A copy of the report is attached.



Reducing Campylobacter cross contamination
(PDF Document, 4.72 MB)

Department for Education

Disabled Students' Allowances: Learning Disability

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the undertaking in the letter from Viscount Younger of Leckie to Lord Addington on 3 December that those diagnosed with dyslexia or specific learning difficulties before the age of 16 will no longer have to undertake a second diagnosis to qualify for the Disabled Students’ Allowance, whether those who have been qualified to carry out this assessment will continue to be so after February 2019.

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all potential students with a diagnosis of dyslexia or specific learning difficulties whose assessment was carried out by somebody without the Assessment Practising Certificate before the end of February 2019 will have to undertake and pay for a second assessment to make them eligible for the Disabled Students’ Allowance in the future.

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether those involved in teaching and diagnosing pupils with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties in the school system have been consulted about the changes to people who can conduct assessments for eligibility for the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

viscount younger of leckie: The department is yet to conclude discussions currently being held with relevant experts, including the British Dyslexia Association, about the qualifications that should be held by those undertaking specific learning difficulty diagnostic assessments that can be used to determine eligibility for Disabled Students’ Allowances. The experts with whom the department is discussing this issue have knowledge and understanding of diagnostic assessment undertaken for school pupils. The department expects to conclude these discussions by the middle of March 2019.

Universities: Admissions

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 20 February (HL13570), whether the recommendations they made to the Office for Students to reduce the numbers of unconditional offers included reversing prior offers of places to students who already satisfied previously advertised admissions criteria.

viscount younger of leckie: The Department for Education has not made any recommendations to the Office for Students (OfS) to reverse prior offers of places to students who already satisfied previously advertised admissions criteria.We have made clear to the OfS that they should use the full range of powers at their disposal to take action where an institution cannot justify their rising numbers of unconditional offers. However, we recognise that where a student already has relevant entry level qualifications, and for some creative arts subjects, unconditional offers may be justified. Admissions are a matter of institutional autonomy but we expect universities to make their admissions criteria fair, accessible and transparent.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Right to Buy Scheme

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the responses to their consultation on the use of receipts from the sale of homes under Right to Buy; and when they will publish their conclusions.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The consultation responses are being carefully analysed and the Government is actively considering its policy response. This is an important issue and we want to get the policies right. The Government’s response will be published in due course.

Local Government: Assets

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the sale of a local council's assets at below market value has to be reported to (1) the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and (2) the council’s auditors; and whether they would expect such sales to be included in a council’s annual accounts and report to residents.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Public bodies should generally dispose of surplus land at the best possible price reasonably obtainable. However, the Government recognises that disposing of land at less than best consideration can sometimes create wider public benefits.With regards to land held in the General Fund, a general consent issued under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 allows local authorities to dispose of land held for purposes other than housing or planning at an undervalue of less than £2 million without seeking a specific consent from the Secretary of State where they consider it will help secure improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of the area. Specific Secretary of State consent is required for disposals of such land at an undervalue of more than £2 million. Specific Secretary of State consent is required for disposals of land held for planning purposes regardless of the sale value.There are also specific rules for housing land. Under section 24 and 25 of the Local Government Act 1988, we expect local authorities to apply to the Secretary of State to dispose of housing assets at less than best value.It is a matter for local authorities to decide whether to include disposals in their annual accounts and reports to residents, and to make appropriate audit arrangements.

Local Government: Basildon

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Basildon Borough Council sought advice from ministers or officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding the sale of council-owned land at (1) a price below market value, and (2) a lower price than had previously been agreed with the vendor without reopening the offer of sale to previous bidders.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Basildon Borough Council are not required to and have not sought advice from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government regarding the sale of general council owned land.However the Council did submit an application under section 25 of the Local Government Act 1988 in respect of housing land at Buckingham Green. The application was approved on 4 April 2018 in favour of the disposal to Swan Housing Association Limited, with the Council maintaining nomination rights over new homes delivered.

Local Government: Basildon

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to appoint auditors to investigate the sale by Basildon Borough Council of a plot of land for development for £1, having purchased the land for £1million two years earlier.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: There are no plans to appoint auditors to investigate the sale. Local authorities have a duty to manage their housing stock and have the statutory power to dispose of properties and land. They also have a fiduciary duty to their council tax payers.

Ministry of Defence

Military Aircraft

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in discussions with the EU on the Future Combat Air System the EU indicated any intention to produce a carrier capable variant.

earl howe: The term Future Combat Air System refers to a number of international Air projects. The department does not recognise the term 'EU Future Combat Air System' and assumes the question refers to the French-German Next Generation Fighter (NGF), which is a component of their Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS). This has previously been referred to as the Système de Combat Aérien Futur (SCAF). The UK has held discussions with a number of EU and other nations on future combat air systems. Public statements made by the French and German governments indicate that carrier compatibility is a requirement for NGF and being considered for other parts of NGWS.

Home Office

Syria: Refugees

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department for International Development will continue to contribute funds to the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme when the current scheme ends in 2020.

baroness williams of trafford: Work has begun with key stakeholders and international organisations on our future Asylum and Resettlement Strategy. This includes consideration of the UK’s resettlement offer, and how it is funded, beyond 2020.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: USA

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a request from the government of the United States to include access to (1) NHS supplies, and (2) the meat supply market in any future trade arrangements.

baroness fairhead: Until the UK leaves the EU, we are bound by the Duty of Sincere Co-operation with the EU and, as such, the UK not yet entered into any negotiations with the United States on potential future trade agreements. Protecting the National Health Service (NHS) is of the utmost importance to the UK. The NHS is protected by specific exceptions and reservations in EU trade agreements and as we leave the EU, the UK will continue to ensure that rigorous protections are included in any future trade agreement between the US and the UK. We have also been clear that any future trade agreements must work for UK producers, businesses, and consumers, and uphold the UK’s high levels of food safety, animal welfare standards, and environmental protection.